The Space Between by Nikki Mathis Thompson Read Free Book Online Page A

thing to do. She wanted him to tell the guys no, without her having to say it. It seemed obvious to her, but men and women spoke different languages…and she had no interest in learning clueless moron.
    They didn’t speak the whole drive home, and that was fine with Georgia. Anything that came out of her mouth wouldn’t have been pleasant anyway. The silence continued as they walked into the house. Nate threw his keys in the dish by the door.  
    Georgia let their dog out into the backyard. She stood on the patio and looked up at the soft moonlight, feeling the anger dissolve. She was still upset, but the need to stab him with something sharp wasn’t as strong.  
    Her thoughts drifted. She could be anywhere right now, gazing at these same stars. She imagined herself somewhere other than her small hometown—where she never thought to find herself at this stage in her life.  
    “Come on, Bear,” she called out into the dark yard. Georgia scratched behind his ear and let him inside. Nate was on the couch watching a college basketball game.  
    “I’m going to bed,” Georgia said over her shoulder as she walked down the darkened hall to their bedroom.  
    She sighed as she unlatched her bra—the underwire had been digging its way past her ribcage all night. She opened her drawer and held up a teal negligee. Nope. Cramming it back into the drawer she grabbed the oldest, ugliest t-shirt she could find. And to make double certain Nate didn’t get any ideas, she put on a pair of oversized flannel pants…with ballerina hippos on them. That should do it. Nothing said ‘not tonight’ like flannel.
    She brushed her teeth and washed her face. When she wiped the hand towel across her eyes she found Nate leaning against the frame of the bathroom door.
    “You gonna stay pissed at me all night?”
    She thought about it a second. “I’m not mad…well, anymore. I’m more disappointed, I guess…Just please, stop putting me in those situations.”
    “Okay, baby. And I’m sorry the night ended like it did. Come on, watch some TV. with me.” She gave him a look. “I’ll even let you pick.”
      “Okay, but there won’t be any balls involved, just so you know.
    He grabbed her around the waist and smiled. “Oh, there’ll be balls involved, but that comes later.” The kiss that followed had apology written all over it, which she accepted.
    He never gave her pajamas a second look, and they never made it back out to the living room.

~Chapter Six~

    A red radio played on her kitchen window sill. Georgia sang along with the tune and stirred in time with the beat—still riding the high of her night with Nate. The ending of it, anyway. She smiled just thinking about it.  
    He’d taken his time, like he was trying to make it up to her. And with an empty house, they were as loud and creative as they wanted.
    She took the spoon around the edge of the bowl two more times. Satisfied with the look of the batter, she turned it over and let it ooze into the greased baking dish.
    This was the worst time for the telephone to ring, but that was always when it rang. Georgia huffed as she looked down at the dark batter on her apron and hands. She cradled the phone between her shoulder and ear while she wiped her hands clean.  
    “Hello…Hey, Momma…I’m working on the cola cake right now…Yes, frosting’s done…No, that’s not all I’m bringing, Momma. I made a Greek salad, too…Feta cheese, olives, mixed greens…yes, Momma, people will eat it…Because I didn’t want to make a Caesar or anything that required ice berg lettuce. I wanted to bring something different…the Barefoot Contessa, that’s who…No, I won’t be embarrassed if no one eats it…No, Nate won’t be either…Mom, Mom! It’s just a salad, it’s not like I’m bringin’ foie gras…never mind.” Georgia rolled her eyes and threw the dirtied dish towel onto the counter. “Yes, Momma…No, Momma. Okay, I need to get this into the oven if I’m